The Green Bay Packers will kickoff their 2023 season 92 days from now against the Chicago Bears. In celebration of a new era of Packers football and in anticipation for the upcoming season, Wisconsin Sports Heroics will present the top 100 players in franchise history in the 100 days leading up to the start of the regular season. Our rankings are based on Pro Football References Approximate Value stat, which gives a numeric value to each season a player plays in.
Greatest Green Bay Packers Players: #92- Ryan Pickett (Defensive Tackle)
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The Green Bay Packers are not known for signing big-time free agents. Reggie White, Charles Woodson, and Julius Peppers may be the biggest signings in franchise history. Of course, lesser-known underrated signings happen all the time. Such was the case when Green Bay signed Ryan Pickett, a former first round pick in the 2001 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.
After five solid seasons with the Rams, which included losing the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots, Pickett signed a four-year deal with the Packers. When he first signed with Green Bay, Pickett was a defensive tackle in the 4-3 defense run by defensive coordinator Bob Sanders. His first year with Green Bay also conincided with Charles Woodson’s first year with the Packers.
After Sanders was fired, Mike McCarthy hired Dom Capers as defensive coordinator. He implemented a 3-4 defense which saw Pickett change roles depending on the season. Sometimes he was lined up as the team’s lone nose tackle; other times he lined up on the outside of the line with BJ Raji in the middle.
His ability to play well no matter where Capers put him made him valuable to the team. He recorded two sacks in the Super Bowl victory, and was key in forcing a Rashard Mendenhall fumble that killed any chance the Steelers had to come back in the game.
When Pickett’s contract was up, the Packers initially placed the franchise tag on him. Fans may remember this because it was brought up often when Green Bay placed the franchise tag on Davante Adams in 2022. They are the last two players to have been placed on the franchise tag by Green Bay. Unlike Adams, though, Pickett signed a four-year deal with the Packers and played out the entirety of his contract.
After his second contract was up, Pickett played one year for the Houston Texans before retiring. Of his 14 NFL seasons, he spent eight of them with the Packers. His AV while in Green Bay was 47, while his AV for his entire career is 81.
Green Bay Packers Greatest Players List
- #100- Daryn Colledge
- #99- Mike Butler
- #98- Bernardo Harris
- #97- Tyrone Williams
- #96- Dick Himes
- #95- Mason Crosby
- #94- Mike McCoy
- #93- Gilbert Brown
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